In the 2000s, the NBA and NFL dominated midseason sports coverage, with the NBA All-Star Game averaging 10 million viewers and the NFL Pro Bowl peaking at 8 million, according to Sports Media Watch.
In recent seasons, both leagues have experienced declines in viewership, with the NFL Pro Bowl down 19% in 2025. Major League Baseball’s All-Star Weekend drew over 7 million viewers this year, and the NHL introduced the Four Nations Face-Off.
On July 15, the MLB All-Star Game drew 7.19 million viewers across FOX and other streaming platforms. While this marked a 3% drop from 2024, it remained the most-watched All-Star event in North America. The game ended in a home run swing-off tiebreaker that saw the National League defeat the American League, and peak viewership reached 8.1 million.
The Home Run Derby also performed well, averaging 5.73 million viewers. According to CBS Sports, much of MLB’s All-Star Game success stems from its competitive nature. Unlike the NBA and NFL, where players often avoid physical aggression to reduce injury risk, baseball’s structure makes it difficult to scale back effort. As a result, the All-Star Game remains a true showcase of the sport’s top talent.
The NHL’s approach this year focused on international competition. Replacing the traditional All-Star Game, the league introduced the Four Nations Face-Off, featuring the United States, Canada, Sweden and Finland. The final between Team USA and Team Canada attracted 16.1 million viewers across North America, including 9.3 million in the U.S. and 6.3 million in Canada.
Earlier matchups also broke records, including the USA-Canada round-robin game, which drew 10.1 million viewers, the most for a non-Stanley Cup NHL broadcast.
Unlike standard All-Star exhibitions, the tournament carried real stakes. Players competed with playoff-level intensity, driven by national pride and historic rivalries. The event was named Sports Event of the Year at the Sports Business Journal Sports Business Awards.
By contrast, the NBA and NFL continued to struggle. The 2025 NBA All-Star Game averaged 4.7 million viewers, a 13% decline from 2024 and the second-lowest total in league history. Recent format changes, including a tournament-style structure and frequent stoppages, have drawn criticism from fans.
The NFL’s Pro Bowl Games, which now feature flag football and skills competitions, averaged similar viewership. Despite rebranding efforts, Sports Illustrated reported that the Pro Bowl continues to be hampered by a lack of physicality. The flag football format leads players to prioritize injury prevention over competitive play, it added.
Since 2011 Statista has reported that the NBA All-Star game has seen a steady decline in viewership. Averaging around 8 million viewers in the early 2010’s to around 4.5 million viewers in the 2020’s. Similarly the NFL Pro Bowl averaged 18% less viewers in 2025 from 2024 as reported by Yahoo Sports. This decline in viewership and quality has led Matt Verderame, a writer at Sports Illustrated, to state, “The NFL should take a hard look at the Pro Bowl and revamp it once and for all.” Brad Botkin of CBS Sports wrote a similar statement about the NBA All-Star Game stating, “It’s enough. Nobody needs [the All-Star Weekend].”
